ParaMotor Comparision List
Here's Henrik's market survey of paraglider engines. The data are taken
from the German `Fly & Glide'-magazine (thanks).
1) Some issues to think about:
- little weight: You want as little weight as possible, after all, you have
to carry the thing around and start with it on your back. Note that engines
with high fuel consumption need more fuel, and are thus heavier when
starting.
- air restartability: Very important, in my opinion. Imagine flying in a
mixed thermal/ridge lift situation. Conserving fuel and keeping it for
the real sink or ridge gap easily doubles your endurance/airtime. Also,
it is a big safety plus to have the ability to restart.
- noise level: 2-blade props are louder than 3-blade props, but are
cheaper and need no transmission. The difference in pilot comfort and
environment effect is significant, though. Also, there are engines which
have additional muzzlers. 4-strokes are usually less noisy than 2-strokes,
but heavier.
- certification: Most engines aren't certified. That doesn't necessarily
mean that they are bad, it just happens that certification is expensive,
and the market still young. Also, certification usually is only done
for a specific paraglider type, which makes it even more expensive and
narrow.
- transportability: How quick does the prop come off ? Does it fit into
a transportation box ? Can you drain the fuel tank before transport ?
- price: Some engines are available in kit form, which is cheaper. Also,
for US guys, a US company is probably loads cheaper than a European
company, given current exchange rates. Most price given include German
value added tax (15%), which you can deduct on export.
2) Products:
Note: I don't take any responsibility for the accuracy of these data.
Model Engine Fuel Fuel Weight Recommended certi- price
Capac. cons. kgs paraglider ficat.
Adventure:
F1 Solo-LS 6 3.9 14.0 - - 5900
F2 Solo-LS 6 3.3 16.0 - - 6800
210 GT Solo-LS 5/10/20 3.0 19.8 - - 7400
arco/Black:
Gemini-Twin Koenig 23HP 20 5-6 31.0 Cyclop 40, - 10600
elec. starter Space 40
Hawk Tiny Solo 15 HP 10 4 17.0 - - 6300
air restart
Spacer,L,Le Solo 21HP 10 4-6 23-25 Graffiti, - 7400-8300
air restart Vision, etc
B&H Flugsport:
David I-IV 13-20HP 2.5-3.2 1.2-1.8 12-17 Phocus 29 - 5750-8450
David IV 28PS 3.2/6.8 3.5 31.8 Superspace - 12000
Twin air/E restart Graffity XL
David V 28PS air/E 3.2/6.8 2.5 29.8 Discovery 333 - 9950
Buettner:
Crazy Plane1 Solo 18 air-r 5/10 3.5 23.0 SpiritFXC,Space - 9150
Crazy Pl. 2 " " " 23.5 Flyair,Space,ZX - 9400
CP3/2stroke 21HP air-r " " 25.5 ZX25, Phocus29, - 11500
CP3/4stroke 21 air-r " " " VisionL, Space DULV 11750
Easy Plane 18 air-r " " 19.0 - - 7350
Mini Plane 18 air-r " " 18.0 SpiritFXC, Sp,ZX - 7250
Flyman Company:
Devilsfly 1 Scout 125ccm 5/10 2.6 16.0 - - 5200 kit
Devilsfly 2 Scout 125ccm " 2.8 17.0 - - 5400 kit
Devilsfly 3 Scout 375ccm 10 6.0 22.0 - - 10200 kit
Flythunder C1/2 Scout 6 2.6 14.0 - - 6400
Parascout 1-2 Scout 125 5/10 2.6/8 11.0 ! - - 3200 kit
Parascout 3 Scout 375 10 6.0 16.0 - - 7800 kit
Fresh Breeze:
090-110 AL Solo 6 3.0 19-23 Phocus etc DULV 6450-8000
Krampen:
Icarus Koenig 24HP, 10 3-5 31 - (DULV) 7800-10000
electrostart.
Kuhn:
Sky-Lift 24HP, e-start 5/10 4.5 20.0 - - sfr 6500
La mouette:
SR 210 Solo 6.5 4.0 20.0 Meteor Gold - 7000
Paraprop Ultraleicht:
Solo Solo 4-blade 5 4.5 24.5 Space, Cyclop40 - 7450
Sky Service:
Pago Jet M4 Koenig 24HP 20 3-5 23.0 A4,Finesse - 10600
3-blade prop
Pago Jet M5 24HP, 6-blade 20 5 27.0 Finesse DULV 13000
Pago Light Solo 210 7 4 18.5 A4,Moskito - 7900
Companies telephone numbers:
Note: These numbers are in Europe, but ask them for US numbers. `+49' means
country code 49 together with whatever you have to dial to get a foreign
country (in the US: 01149, for example).
Adventure +49 9278-8690, Fax -7426
arco/Black +49 8463-9834, Fax -8167
B&H Flugsport +49 5241-54147, Fax -55257
Buettner +49 5724-3424, Fax -51101
Flyman Company Switzerland 37-712310
Fresh Breeze +49 511-739864, Fax -721860
Krampen +49 2452-7049, Fax same.
Kuhn Switzerland 1-8218040
La mouette +49 5632-5198, Fax -1080
Paraprop Ultraleicht +49 6028-2621, Fax -3660
Sky Service/Pago Jet +49 7305-24466, Fax -24467
If you ever end up buying one, I would like to know how you like it.
Cheers,
Henrik@UniX11.com
--
Henrik Klagges (Mr. Unix Cockpit)
henrik@UniX11.com,
henrik@quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de,
uh331ao@sunmail.lrz-muenchen.de
